A lot can change in the course of one week.
Four days removed from a win over Toronto in which they mustered just 12 shots on goal, the Fleet were hot from the outset in a 2-0 win against the Goldeneyes at Boston University’s Agganis Arena on Wednesday night, putting 19 shots on net in the first period and outshooting the Vancouver, 31-21, overall.
“We didn’t start on time in Toronto,” said first-year Fleet coach Kris Sparre. “It took us a while to get into that game, and so the message tonight was to get after it early.”
A first-period goal from rookie forward Abby Newhook set the tone for the Fleet, who at 3-0 are the PWHL’s only undefeated team. Jill Saulnier tacked on an insurance goal at 6:40 of the third, and goaltender Aerin Frankel, whose 0.33 goals against average leads the league, made 21 saves to preserve her second shutout of the season.
“When you have goaltending that’s that solid, it gives your team confidence in any situation,” said Sparre. “It keeps the belief strong that we have a wall behind us keeping pucks out of the net.”
Newhook’s second goal in as many games gave Boston a 1-0 lead with 5:02 elapsed in the game. Defender Hadley Hartmetz fired a shot from the blue line into traffic, and Newhook collected the rebound and poked the puck over the skate of Vancouver goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.
The Fleet’s 2025 fifth-round draft pick said she saw the play in “slow motion,” and attributed her recent scoring success to her linemates and the team’s suffocating first-period offense, which was reminiscent of the style Boston displayed in its 2-0 win over Montreal at the Tsongas Center to open the season — and marked a return to the identity Sparre has tried to cultivate.
“[It’s] a taxing system on your legs and on your endurance,” said Sparre, noting his appreciation for how his team embraced the speed and intensity he’s been preaching.
“We’ve done it in spurts.”
The Fleet’s constant offensive-zone pressure limited the Goldeneyes to just two shots on goal in the first period as they peppered Maschmeyer.
The offensive production slowed in the second and third periods, however, and Frankel was busy in the second. The Goldeneyes generated a half dozen Grade A chances in front of Frankel’s net — including a point-blank shot off a breakaway by Michelle Karvinen she turned away.
After a scoreless second frame, the Fleet spent a prolonged stint in their defensive zone to start the third. They looked to be losing steam before Saulnier stole the puck from Sophie Jaques at Boston’s blue line and added some insurance on a breakaway goal — her first score of the year.
“You get hemmed in, and they were buzzing the puck around there pretty good, and we got stuck,” said Saulnier. “That’s why you’ve got to just battle, and that’s what we practice — putting ourselves in the best position to get it out.”
Vancouver pulled Maschmeyer with three minutes left in the game, but Frankel made four saves during the six-on-five stretch to preserve the shutout.
“It’s pretty amazing to be able to play in front of a goalie that you know is just going to stand on her head every day,” said Saulnier.
The Fleet, in sole possession of first place in the PWHL standings, will return to Agganis Arena to face two-time reigning Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost Sunday at 3 p.m. for their second of four games this season at BU’s venue. The team also recently announced an April 11 game at TD Garden to be played as the 7 p.m. nightcap of a doubleheader with the Bruins, who will host the Lightning at 12:30 p.m..
Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy.